10 of the Best From Flickerfest

By Travis Johnson

January 11, 2018

We pick out some highlights from the massive Flickerfest 2018 program.

With over 100 short films screening in 22 programs over 10 days, Flickerfest 2018 can be a daunting field to navigate. Yet, while we fully endorse the serendipitous practice of simply booking a ticket and seeing what the night serves up, FilmInk have taken the liberty of pulling out a few attractive highlights that might help sway your viewing decisions if you’re having trouble making a choice.

Over a Chinese food picnic at the beach, Stephen Hawking and Kanye West discuss dance moves, Drake and the art of Divination. Written and directed by Sol Friedman, produced by Friedman and Sarah Clifford-Rashotte

Madeleine the Human Cannonball and her husband are carnies. Their lives, like their show, seem to be perfectly under control. Written by Germano Zullo, directed by Albertine Zullo and David Toutevoix, produced by Claude Barras, Jérôme Duc-Maugé, Maral Mohammadian, Marianne Chazelaz, Michael Fukushima, and Maxime Fossier.

ACROSS MY LAND(United States, 15 minutes, 2016, Australian Premiere)

Father and son ‘minutemen’ patrol the American/Mexican border near their home in Nogales, Arizona. Written by Fiona Godivier and Thymaya Payne, directed by Godivier, produced by Godivier, Adrian Salpeter, Elizabeth Levine, Michael Tubbs, and Joaquin Phoenix.

RED INK(Australia, 13 minutes, 2017)

Fearing the wrath of Stalin if he fails, a man tries to purchase a packet of SAOs for the dictator at his local supermarket but other shoppers’ frustrations set in motion an unexpected disaster. Written by Duncan Graham (based on his own stage play), directed by Alex Ryan, produced by Kristen Hodges.

BONESLAYER(Australia, 6 minutes, 2016, World Premiere)

An old man and a stolen dog share an unlikely kinship in this sweet but sad story of an odd couple. Written and directed by Oliver Ramsay, produced by Ramsay and Honeylyn Lisson.

YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US(Australia, 15 minutes, 2017, World Premiere)

A short comedy that confirms our fears about what really goes on at call-centers when we’re asked, ‘Please hold?’ Written and directed by TJ Power, produced by Riley Nottingham and Kathryn Power.

AFTER LIFE(New Zealand, 16 minutes, 2016, Australian Premiere)

An enthralling look inside the hidden world of a New Zealand funeral home, After Life explores a unique, enigmatic institution, following the men and women who work with the dead and the delicate ritual of the body’s preparation for its final journey. Directed and produced by Prisca Bouchet and Nick Mayow.

LITTLE POTATO(United States, 14 minutes, 2017, Australian Premiere)

An autobiographical short about a boy growing up gay in the Soviet Union, his mail-order-bride Mum and their adventurous escape to America. Written, produced, and directed by Wes Hurley and Nathan Miller.

It’s the ’90s and two young girls practice for QuakeCon. When they are forced to spend time with one of the girls’ grandmother, they discover that she is a world-weary woman of strong will. Written and directed by Lars Vega Persson, produced by Isabelle Björklund.

CATASTROPHE(The Netherlands, 2 minutes, 2017, NSW Premiere)

When a little bird suddenly drops dead in its cage, all eyes are on the cat. Written and directed by Jamille van Wijngaarden, produced by Derk-Jan Warrink and Koji Nelissen.